Seattle Mariners Need More Than Robinson Cano to Contend Next Season

The Seattle Mariners have finally landed the impact bat they were looking for this offseason.

Seattle has reportedly agreed to a 10-year, $240 million deal with former New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano who will instantly become the team’s biggest threat on both sides of the ball.

There’s no doubt that Cano will make the Mariners a more potent team offensively, but he can’t be considered as the savior of the franchise. In fact, the Mariners need a lot more if they are looking to contend this upcoming year.

The Mariners offense was dreadful last season to say the least. They ranked near the bottom in almost every major category in the AL for 2013 including batting average, on-base percentage and total strikeouts. While adding Cano is a good punch, he’s not enough to turn the team around. Considering the infielder is already at his peak, it’s difficult to see him performing at a top level throughout his entire contract.

One thing that Cano adds to the team is power from a defensive position. Even though the Mariners ranked second in total homers this past season, the presence of Cano is a boost for a team that lived and died by the long ball. They struggled to get on base, and the former Bronx Bomber – a career .309/.355/.504 hitter – will surely be a nice addition. In order for the team to contend in a tough division like the AL West, however, they need more offensive punch.

There’s no doubt that Cano was the most sought after agent and is a big prize for a Seattle organization, but the team needs to keep improving if they really want to have a chance next year.